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Shamrock Rovers have confirmed Trevor Croly as their new manager on a two-year-contract.

Croly departs St Patrick’s Athletic where he served as assistant to Liam Buckley this season.

Brian Laws had been in charge of the Hoops after the sacking of Stephen Kenny following a disappointing season for the Dublin outfit before departing for Scunthorpe United at the end of a short-term deal.

Croly has previously served as assistant to Michael O’Neill in Tallaght Stadium and has already been linked with a number of players for next season.

"There is no question that I’ll be looking for a strong work ethic from my squad" - Trevor Croly

Rovers finished in fourth place in the Airtricity Premier Division, missing out on European football for 2013.

Croly's appointment brings a new look to the Hoops staff, in addition to the promotion of Colin Hawkins to assistant manager.

Noel White is the head of operations with the Tallaght outfit, a new role that will include chief scout and "overseeing the football structures at the club".

Dublin GAA footballer Philly McMahon is the new strength and conditioning coach while Tim Dalton joins as goalkeeping coach from Pat's.

Croly said: "I’m delighted to be back at Shamrock Rovers and taking up the position of manager. I’m looking forward to working with the players that are already here and to assembling a squad that can represent Shamrock Rovers well as a club.

"I feel it will be great benefit to me that I have been at the club before as a player and in recent years as an assistant manager. But I have also been away from the club and know how Shamrock Rovers is seen from the outside as well as how it operates internally.

"It is important for us all to come together as club staff, players and fans to have a season that we can be proud of in 2013.

"We will put together a talented squad, but also one where the players want to work their talent. There is no question that I’ll be looking for a strong work ethic from my squad that the team and fans can be proud of.

"I have been an assistant manager and coach for nine years and I have been building my football education towards this point. I’m prepared for the challenge that lies ahead and I know well that the hard work starts here.

"I have put in place a strong backroom staff and I feel I can help the club to continue to develop and have success.

"On the backroom staff, holistically I think they will bring a lot to the club. There is vast experience and knowledge in there, particularly from a playing and coaching background.

"I have worked with them all before and I think they will all be pieces of the puzzle that will get the most out of the players we have at the club next year."

Shamrock Rovers chairman Jonathan Roche said the club is aiming to learn from mistakes made this season and believes the new structure, put together with help from outgoing director of football Brian Laws, will lead to a bright future for the Hoops.

Roche said: "The club learned a lot from the success we had in 2011 and in particular from our participation in the group stages of the Europa League. However, it is safe to say that we learned even more from the season just gone.

"After the departure of Stephen Kenny, it was important for us to take time to assess where we are as a club and also the current situation of the league in general. We brought in Brian Laws, who gave us the benefit of his considerable experience at the top level of football in England, in assessing the footballing set-up at Shamrock Rovers.

"As a board, we have given considerable thought and discussion to what we need at Shamrock Rovers to continue to develop as a club, both on and off the pitch.

"Trevor knows this league and the way it operates inside-out; he has considerable experience as both a player and a coach/assistant manager.

"Trevor comes to Shamrock Rovers as not only the most highly thought-of coach in the league, but also with very definite ideas of the type of manager he will be. We were extremely impressed by his progressive approach to the game and we feel his embracing of new technologies and ideas will be very beneficial to Shamrock Rovers. Trevor is a very hungry, ambitious and well-considered person, and we feel that is exactly what we need at Shamrock Rovers at the moment.

"Trevor will set high standards for the players at the club and will instil a strong work ethic in the squad along with providing the top class coaching that he is well known for in the league."